The obvious fawning and flattery from Madam Huang was too much.
Just now, Madam Gu had been curious why she was suddenly asking so many questions and showing such unusual interest in her grandson.
It seemed she harbored ill intentions.
Chen Xiaoran was somewhat reluctant, grumbling, "Mother, it's too hot outside, I don't want to go!~"
She actually wanted to go play with Xiao Xi Tian, but with her mother interfering like this, she didn't even feel like going anymore...
"You have to go even if it's hot. Look how hard Jin Shan's child is working. What's wrong with bringing him a few cantaloupes?"
Madam Huang nudged her daughter, "Hurry up, stop dawdling!"
Chen Xiaoran: "..."
Fine, she had no choice but to go.
Madam Xue sat to the side, observing for a moment, and suddenly saw through the situation.
This Prefect's wife was deliberately trying to curry favor with the Yun family, likely hoping to form a connection.
She also intended to befriend the Yun family, but haste made waste; it had to be done slowly.
After sitting in the main hall for a while, Madam Xue went to visit her husband.
The news of Magistrate Qin's injury had not been reported to his family, so Madam Xue did not know he had been shot in the chest.
Seeing him like this, her wife and children were terrified, crying and wailing profusely...
Chen Xiaoran, carrying a basket with five or six washed cantaloupes, walked towards Gou Gou Lake.
Qin Yiyi, having nothing else to do, followed along.
The two young girls walked in silence, without any conversation.
Upon reaching the shore of Gou Gou Lake, they saw Xiao Xi Tian walking among the various carpenters from afar.
Like a pink ball of flesh, anyone who saw her would find her utterly adorable.
"Sister Xi Tian, I've brought you cantaloupes!~"
Chen Xiaoran's eyes curved into crescents as she handed over the largest cantaloupe.
Xiao Xi Tian's face lit up with joy, "Wow, Sister Xiaoran, Sister Yiyi, you're here!"
Qin Yiyi also handed a bag of dried fruit to Xiao Xi Tian, "My mother said we can stay in Dashui Village for a few more days this time."
"That's great!~" Xiao Xi Tian was overjoyed.
Qin Yiyi looked around and asked, "Sister Xi Tian, where is Brother Jin Shan?"
Her visit to Dashui Village was not only to see Xiao Xi Tian but also largely because she wanted to play with Yun Jin Shan.
Chen Xiaoran glanced at Qin Yiyi and directly shoved the basket into her arms, "Sister Yiyi, please give the cantaloupes to Jin Shan for me!~"
She was eight years old this year, one year older than Qin Yiyi.
"This... this isn't very good, is it!~" Qin Yiyi scratched her face.
"What's not good about it!" Chen Xiaoran smiled sweetly.
She had seen it long ago, Qin Yiyi liked Yun Jin Shan, so what was she doing standing in the way?
Her mother was truly amusing, forcing her to do something she didn't like.
"Go on, it's hot, the cantaloupes will wilt soon!" Chen Xiaoran nudged Qin Yiyi.
Xiao Xi Tian stood to the side, her big eyes darting back and forth.
What was going on?
Was Sister Xiaoran helping them fulfill their wishes?
She would have to remind her second nephew to be nicer to Sister Yiyi in the future.
The drought relief efforts in Dashui Village were in full swing, and Xiao Jin Heng's investigation into the assassins had not stopped either...
After the unremitting efforts of two dark guards and Kong Xing Zhuo, the truth was finally uncovered on the fourth day.
"Little Master, we have a lead!~" Kong Xing Zhuo hurried in to report.
Xiao Jin Heng was instructing Granny Jin to make a sunshade hat for Xiao Xi Tian.
The top was a round dome woven with bamboo strips, and the sides were covered with white gauze.
This would not only prevent heatstroke but also block the sun, preventing sunburn.
Xiao Jin Heng gave Granny Jin a few more instructions and then took Kong Xing Zhuo to the study.
"Who is the killer?" Xiao Jin Heng asked.
"It's Grand Tutor Du from the capital."
"How could it be him?" Xiao Jin Heng frowned.
This person was a first-rank official in the imperial court, who had been in office for many years. Although he had done many bad things, they were not significant enough to cause major trouble...
Kong Xing Zhuo paused and then recounted in detail what he had investigated.
It turned out that Grand Tutor Du had discovered the agarwood forest growing on Tuofeng Mountain long ago.
A few years ago, he had sent people to secretly cut it down and had dug an underground warehouse on the shore of Gou Gou Lake.
To store the finished lumber.
He had also transported earth dragons from the south and released them into the lake to prevent the villagers from discovering them.
Wolf packs were also kept in Tuofeng Mountain to deter the villagers of Dashui Village.
In fact, Grand Tutor Du was not just illegally logging the agarwood forest on Tuofeng Mountain.
His tentacles had already reached much farther.
Wherever there was agarwood in the Great Liang Kingdom, it was inevitably ravaged by him.
This type of tree was too valuable, almost as much as gold and silver, and everyone coveted it.
Kong Xing Zhuo had also identified the masked assassin.
He was a deputy captain in the Shenji Camp in the capital and a skilled archer trained by Grand Tutor Du.
He specialized in assassinating those who obstructed his financial path.
The assassination of Prefect Chen and Magistrate Qin when they went up the mountain this time was also at the instigation of Grand Tutor Du.
By killing these two court officials, he could divert the attention of the yamen.
Grand Tutor Du could then cut down the remaining agarwood forest as quickly as possible...
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jin Heng's handsome young face turned as dark as ink.
He gritted his teeth and said, "This scoundrel dares to do such wicked things right under Father Emperor's nose!~"
The thought of the entire forest being destroyed and toppled filled Xiao Jin Heng with unquenchable rage.
Kong Xing Zhuo asked, "Little Master, what should we do next?"
With their current strength, they were no match for Grand Tutor Du.
They might even invite a fatal disaster.
Xiao Jin Heng pondered for a moment, "This matter must be reported to Father Emperor so he can deal with that scoundrel!~"
After speaking, Xiao Jin Heng picked up a writing brush and wrote a letter on Xuan paper, handing it to Kong Xing Zhuo.
"Have someone deliver the letter to the palace, and do it quickly!"
"Yes!~"
The letter not only accused Grand Tutor Du of greed and accumulation of wealth but also praised Xiao Xi Tian...
She had helped the villagers drive away the rat plague, designed the waterwheel, and fought against drought and disaster.
Such contributions must not be snatched away by others.
Ten days later, a major event occurred in the capital.
Grand Tutor Du was dismissed from his official post, and his entire family was exiled to the northern frontier to farm.
The imperial court seized a large amount of agarwood across the country and sent people to protect the forests, prohibiting anyone from cutting them down at will.
More than thirty soldiers were also sent to Dashui Village.
They were led by a young man and marched grandly into Tuofeng Mountain.
This man had sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, and an imposing demeanor.
A precious sword hung at his waist, and he wore silver armor. His mere appearance captivated all the young married women in Dashui Village.
His name was Gu Ming Yan, and he had inherited the title of Marquis Pingyang from the old Marquis Gu.
"My Lord, that forest ahead is it!" Kong Xing Zhuo walked at the forefront.
Gu Ming Yan nodded and asked, "Is Heng'er alright?"
Xiao Jin Heng was his nephew, and since arriving in Dashui Village to take refuge, he had missed his little nephew day and night.
Kong Xing Zhuo smiled and said, "The little prince is fine, Lord Gu need not worry!"
"Good, that's good!" Gu Ming Yan nodded gently and followed Kong Xing Zhuo into the agarwood forest.